State College Spikes: Renegades hand Spikes another loss

The State College Spikes collected plenty of hits Sunday evening, but it was the Hudson Valley Renegades who were able to cash in when they needed them.

The Renegades scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to hand the Spikes their fourth straight loss, and second in the three-game series, with a 4-2 victory at a sweltering Dutchess Stadium, where the gametime temperature was 93 degrees.

Jimmy Bosco collected three hits for State College (14-12), which will try to avoid the series sweep when the teams meet for the final game of the three-game set at 11:05 a.m. Monday before enjoying a day off Tuesday.

Steven Ramos was 2-for-2 with a double, Bosco also doubled and Ronald Castillo also had a pair of hits for the Spikes. Ramos also scored both State College runs

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In all, the Spikes had nine hits, but converted on just 1 of 5 chances with runners in scoring position and left four runners on base.

Hudson Valley had just four hits but cashed in on 3 of 5 chances with runners in scoring position.

Both teams had solid outings from the starting pitchers. Aaron Griffin gave up five hits, a run and a walk over six innings for the Renegades, while Ben O’Shea struck out three in three hitless innings for the Spikes.

Kyle Webb (1-1), the third State College pitcher, was tagged with the loss while Cory Jordan picked up the win and Andrew Hanse had a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his second save.

Ramos doubled and scored when Cesar Valera bounced into a double play in the sixth inning, then singled and scored on Valera’s sacrifice fly in the eighth to tie the game 2-2.

In the bottom of the eighth, an error, sacrifice bunt and hit batter began the inning before a Tyler Young ground-rule double brought in one runner, and an Oscar Hernandez sacrifice fly plated the second run. Young finished 2-for-3. Hernandez knocked in two runs in the game to pass State College’s David Washington for the New York-Penn League lead in RBIs this season with 23. Washington has 22.

The Spikes will start right-hander Willy Paulino (1-1) on the mound Monday against lefty Ben Griset (0-2) to close the series. State College will then return home for a six-game homestand beginning Wednesday.